Andy Leek | |
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Born | 1958 |
Origin | The Midlands, England |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
Instruments | Keyboards guitar hamonica |
Years active | 1978–present |
Labels | Birds Nest, Parlophone, Beggars Banquet, Fascination, Atlantic, Undiscovered Classics, Polydor |
Associated acts | George Martin, Dexys Midnight Runners, The Blue Ox Babes, The Blue Angels, Wailing Cocks |
Website | www.andyleek.com |
Andy Leek (born 1958) is a singer/songwriter, poet and musician, known for his work with Sir George Martin. He is an original member of Dexys Midnight Runners and played on the number one single Geno. He has also written the single "Twist in the Dark" for Anni-Frid Lyngstad of Abba. His solo single Say Something reached the number 1 position in Lebanon during the civil war.
Leek began his musical career while still at school in the progressive punk band The Wailing Cocks. The band released two singles on independent label Birds Nest, recorded two sessions for John Peel's Radio 1 show, Kid Jensen Live and Radio 2's in Concert Live. However the band's career was cut short by the tragic death of their guitarist and Leek's best friend Alan Boyle.
At the age of 21, Leek joined Dexys Midnight Runners in late October 1979, playing on early recordings such as the hit single "Geno" and four other tracks on their debut album Searching for the Young Soul Rebels. Just before the band were at No. 1 in the charts with this track, Leek left to be a solo artist.
Two earlier songs Leek had recorded with the Wailing Cocks were then licensed to Beggars Banquet Records for release as a double-A-sided solo single: "Move On (In Your Maserati)" / "Ruben Decides". These were both played on Radio One and were single of the week in Sounds.
In early 1981, Leek teamed up with fellow ex-Dexys member Kevin "Al" Archer in his new band The Blue Ox Babes in which Leek played piano, harmonium, harmonica and sung backing vocals.
Some months later, on the strength of a demo tape of 16 new songs, Beggars Banquet paid for an album's worth of new material but this lay dormant until their belated release as Midnight Music on Leek's own Undiscovered Classics label in 2009. One song from these sessions, Twist in the Dark, was recorded by Frida from ABBA for her 1984 solo album Shine, via a recommendation from Leek's friend Kirsty MacColl. Frida's version was also issued as a single around the world and she described this song as "her favourite song she had recorded outside of Abba".